Farming couple plea for help as 58 sheep killed by flash floods

A Cumbrian farming couple has issued a desperate plea to their local authorities for help managing the River Derwent near Keswick after a flash flood led to the loss of 58 ewe lambs.

Warning: graphic images below

Dan Simpson and Ruby Cappleman of Seatoller Farm, Borrowdale, experienced the “worst day of our lives” on Friday 30 September, when heavy rain caused the fields around their farm to flood.

The water rose to more than 1.5m deep in just four hours when the River Derwent, which starts at Seathwaite and runs into Derwent Water, burst its banks.

See also: Farmers need key role in water management, says NFU

Met Office figures show 97mm of rain fell at Seathwaite on Friday. 

This is the first time the National Trust tenants have seen flooding on this scale.

The young couple, who took on the tenancy five years ago from Mr Simpson’s parents, Stephen and Christine Simpson, say action to dredge the river must happen soon “before lives are lost”.

They have set up a petition calling for action from the Environment Agency and local Rivers Trust to manage the River Derwent.

This has gained more than 1,300 signatures since launching at the weekend.

© Ruby Cappleman

High cost

The cost of losing their stock, which consisted of Herdwick and Swaledale ewe lambs, is expected to run into tens of thousands of pounds, not accounting for almost a whole generation of breeding being wiped out.

Ms Cappleman said: “I can’t describe the heartache seeing our stock, which we have looked after and are the future of our flock, be washed away. 

“Dan was at the auction when I first noticed the severity of the flooding and he returned home straight away, only to end up stranded a mile from home.

“A local farmer managed to get him home. Meanwhile, I helplessly tried to catch lambs as they floated past while nearly knee deep. I only managed to save three with the help of two neighbours before it got too dangerous.”

The roads surrounding the farm were cut off, and the water was over Mr Simpson’s tractor tyres as he tried to return stranded children from the local school to their homes in Borrowdale. 

Of 148 sheep in the field neighbouring the river, 58 ewe lambs were lost.

© Ruby Cappleman

Unacceptable 

Ms Cappleman added: “We live in the wettest place in England, but it’s unacceptable that four hours of rain can cause so much devastation. The river should be able to cope with longer periods of rain before it causes absolute chaos.”

A representative from Copeland MP Trudy Harrison’s office has already been in touch to try to co-ordinate a meeting with the Environment Agency, NFU and local council.

The National Trust also visited the property on Monday 3 October, and pledged to look into the issue immediately.

Ms Cappleman said: “We are waiting on a date for a meeting, and hopefully, from this, swift action will be taken to manage the river.

“Dredging may not be the complete solution, but I expect that alone would make a huge difference due to the number of stones in the river bottom,” she said.